Co-Exploring Everyday Life of Adults with ADHD

There are relatively few studies based on an individual adult perspective on ADHD which takes into account how various factors interact and affect everyday life. Compensatory strategies can facilitate life for people with ADHD and those strategies might include the use of assistive technology or cognitive support. The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss how various factors can facilitate or challenge a person's tendency to adopt technology to better meet the demands and expectations of adult life. Participant observations and narrative interviews were used while co-exploring the life of three adults diagnosed with ADHD. By using this method the participants' own solutions, adaptions and preferences regarding cognitive support and assistive technology become visible. Results showed that factors like negative symptoms, stress, sleep deprivation, financial- or social problems effected the participant's motivation, feelings of competence, ability to identify prioritized activities and to maintain supportive routines – things that have been proven to be important for assistive technology use. Developing useworthy support and technology that meets the needs of people with ADHD is important in order to enable autonomy and compensate for the impairment.